five-finger discount

• five finger discount

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five-finger discount (plural five-finger discounts)

1. (slang, euphemistic) Theft or pilferage, typically of a small item; shoplifting.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:theft

   • 1986, James Ellroy, Killer on the Road, Avon Books, →ISBN, page 28:

     I was a burglary detective for three years before I joined the Speaker's Bureau, and you might say I managed to acquire a few things at a five-finger discount, if you catch my drift.

   • 1990, "The Telltale Head" (The Simpsons season 1 episode 8)

     - Hey, guys. Where'd you get all that great stuff?
     - Five-finger discount, man.
     - You ripped it off?

• sticky fingers